Territory



2 Sheets-Shee 1.

( N0 Model.)

. H. W. SPRAGUE.

GAR GOUPLING.

N0. 421,446. Patented Feb. 18 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY V. SPRAGUE, OB SIOUX FALLS, (DAKOTA TERRITORY) SOUTH DA- KOTA, ASSIGNOR OF FIVE-EIGI-ITI-IS T RICHARD E. PETTIGRE\V AND n ED\VARD C. DNNING, BOTH OF SAME PLAGE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 421,446, dated. February 18, 18

Applioation fi1ed J'u1y 3, 1889. Serial N0. 316,371. (N0 moc1e1.)

T0 all wh0m zt may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. SPRAGUE, a eitizen 0f the Unioed Stabes, residing at Sioux Falls, in the countyof Minnehaha and Territory 0f Dakoa, hzwe invened eertzn new and nsefu1 Improvements in Oar-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a fu11, dem, and exact deseription 0f the invention, which will enable ot-hers skilled in [0 the a1t [0 whieh it appertains t0 1nake and use the same.

This invention re1ates to car-couplings of that dass embodying an automatie eouplinghook and means for elevatingthe latter; and

113 has f0r its objeot 130 provide a simple and improved coupling of this eharacter pos5essing advanta-ges in point 0f inexpensiveness, durability, and general effieieney.

In 11he drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the end of a am, showing my improved eoupling applied ghereto. Fig. 2 is a top 01 p1an view 0f the conpling detached. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the szune. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view 0f the coupling-hook. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the bearing and loeking braeket for the npper hand-lever. Fig. 6 is a side e1eva tion thereof, tl1e nieohod of locking the 1ever being illnsrated in dotted 1ines. Fig. 7 is a t0p 01 plan view of the lower loeking-bracket.

Corresponding parts in the figures are denot-ed by the same letters of referenee.

Referring t0 t-he dmwings, A designates the end 0f a cm, t0 which is app1ied in any suitab1e manner my improved coupling B, the latter being preferably eushioned to prevent j2uring when an opp0sing eoupling comes in contaet therewith. The coupling B eomprises the rear portion b, projecting under 1zhe ear,

and the dmw-head C at the front thereof, seid draw-head being preferably verc-ically enla1ged at its uppen side, as shown. A1; the upper rein: edge of the dmw-head is provided a flange c 011 a 1ine With seid rear edge, and

frorn seid fiange projeot forwardly ribs c c, the enlargeinent of the draw-head and the fiange forming a shpulder o adapted t0 come in contaec Wih a cross-piece c seeured 130 the 0&1 to limit the rea'rward n1ovement of the conpling. A11 of the abovedeseribed parts of the drzuv-head am prefembly east integral.

The draw-head is provided With a linkchamber D, hzwing a flaring m0uh d, and fro1n seid link-ehamber is formed a vert-ical longitudinally-elongated s1ot E, extending to Ehe top of the draw-head. A smaller slot E is formed in he lower portion of the drawhead, extending from the lower side thereqf to the link-ehamber. The slot E is longitudina1ly enlarged au ics rear end nnder the t0p surface of the draw-head, as shown, zu1d from the t0p 0f the drawhead ab the 1'ear end 0f the slot are formed two corresponding irregularly-eurved grooves F F, extending 1earward1y and downwardly t0 near the Imkohamber, where they terminace in enlarged ends ff, said grooves being formed in ohe walls of the S101: E. Tl1e ends f 0 f these grooves form the seats f0r the bearing g of a couplinghook G. The latter comprises horizontal arm c at Ehe front end of wlnen is the hook properg projeeting downweufily and rearwardly and having its fronn s1de curved. Proj eeting upwardly and rearwardl y from the arm g anti above the draw-head 1s an arm g Fromm the foregoing deseription 1b W111 be obvious that When the bearing g 01: the compling-ho0k has been pa-ssed down through the grooves F into the seaos a1: t-heir lower ends the hook is entirely contained wioh1n the dmw-head, With the exception 0f the end of the lifting-arin and by reason of the formeuion of the grooves the conpling-hopk 15 locked in its properposition against ordmary displacement. F01 elevating the coupling-hook a Jn011- zont-ally-disposed lever H is provided, bearing in suitable braekets h h, secured upon the end of ehe car, near eaeh side thereof, and in a centfally-disposed bracket I, mounted npon the cross-piece o said lever being provided With operauing-handles h h at its ends. The bracketl comprises two upwardly-projeet-ing lugs z 2", respeetively. Between theSe lugs projects ontwardly from the lever H an arm h" seid arm extending over the drawl1ead, and is connected with the lifting-arm of the coupling-hook by a shor chain J. The lug i of ehe brackel is provided Witl1 a nentrally-disposed vertical slot 4?, l1aving at its rear edge a projecting stop z, said groove bein'g adapted 130 reeeive tl1e arm 7& when the conpling-hook is elevated t0 retain the latter in tha1; position, while the stop serves to prevent tl1e withdrawal of the coupling-hook m00 far from the draw-heacl.

T0 facilitate the operation 0f the coupling from tl1e top 0f tl1e car, I l1ave provided a hand-operating lever K, pivotally mounted in a braeket L, disposed npon the roof 0f die ear. Th e bracket L comprises a baseplate seeured t0 tl1e car-roof, from which project a1; an incline thereto two parallel arms l Z, respectively, 13l1e latter one being provided with an inwardly -projeeting V- shaped portion Z forming a shoulder, behind which the lever K .is adapted to be locked. The latc-er is acutangular in shape, and is pivotecl between i;l1e arms l Z, near their lower ends, said lever being of abont the tl1ickness 0f the spaee between 13l1e said arms.

When io is desired to lock tl1e lever against movement, tl1e same is thrown baelcward 01 forwarcl beyond 0ne 01 tl1e 0tl1er 0f "he shoulders formed by tl1e portion Z When it is thrown toward ehe latter and in engagement therewith.

'lhe outer end k 0f the lever K is conneeted with an arm h projeeting at rigl1t angles fron1 the lever II by a rod M, pivotally secured t0 alle said end of lever K, t-l1e free end 0f said 1 0d being connected With uhe arm 7L2 throngh the medium of a short chain M. By means of tl1e loose connection afforded by this chain tl1e automatio operation of the coupling-hook is in 110 way interfered Witl1 should the lever K be thrown forward and loeked in this position.

The operation and advantages 0f my invention Will be readily understood by ohose skilled in the art t0 which it appercains. I1; willbe obvious that the coupling of the cars is effected automatically, and that through the means provicled nncoupling of the ears is readily and quickly effeot-ed eitl1er fro1n alle t0p 0f the cars 01 at 13he side thereof.

I claim as my inventionl. In a car-conpling, die combination, Witl1 a draw-head provided with a link-chamber and a longiundinally-disposed slot extending therefrom t0 tl1e t0p of tl1e draw-l1ead, said sl0t being eontraeted at its upper end and having corresponding grooves in its side Walls extending nnder tl1e top 0f tl1e draw-head, 0f a gravity conpling-hook disposed within the slot and having I'DS bearings seated in 1;]1e lower ends of tl1e grooves, substantially as and f01 tl1e purpose set forth.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination, Willi a draw41ead provided Witl1 a link-ohamber and an npwardlynonvergent longitudinal slot extending from the latte1 t0 tl1e top 0f alle draw-head and provided with corresponding grooves in its side Walls, substantially as sl1own, oi' a gravity conpling-hook having it-s bearings seatecl in tl1e lower ends 0f said grooves, subsianbially as sek f0113l1.

3. Tl1e combination, witl1 t-l1e end of a car, of a ear-coupling carried thereby and embodying an aut-0matic conpling-hook, a leven for elevating Ehe latter mounted horizontally in a bearing-bracker, the latter comprising tw0 upwardly-projecting lugs, one of whicl1 being provid ed with a vertical recess and an inwardly-proj ecting sop at the rear edge of tl1e latter, and an arm projecting from the lever loeween said lugs and connected with tl1e eonpling-hook, said arm being adapted t0 engage ehe recess t0 retain the hook in elevated position, while the stop is adapted t0 limit the elevation of the said l1ook, substantially as and for tl1e purpose sei: fortln 4. The combination, Wibh the end of a car, of a car-coupling earried thereby and embodyting an antomat-ic eoupling-hook, a lever having an arm pr0j ecting therefrom and nonnected Witl1 tl1e coupling hook, a bracket mounted 011 the car-top and comprising the base-plae, having tw0 parallel arms projeeting npwardly a1; an incline thereco, one of said arms being provided With an inwardlyproj ecting V-shaped portion forming'lockingshoulders at eitl1er side, a lever pivoted between said arms and adapted to engage said sl1oulders, and a rod and ehain conneeting said lever wi1sh a second arm projeeting from the firso-mentioned lever, subsoan tially as and for Ehe purpose set forth.

5. In a car-eoupling, tl1e eombination,with a draw-head provided Willi a vertically-disposed longitudinal slot extending fr0m tl1e link-chamber so the t0p 0f the draw-l1ead and eonverging upwardly, said sl0t having corresponding grooves in its side Walls extending under the top of the draw-head, 0f a gravity coupling-hook having its bearings seated in the lower ends 0f said groove and under the n0p 0f the draw-head, substantially as and for the purpose sei: forth.

6. In a car-coupling, the comloination, with a drawhead provided Wih a vertieally-disposed longitudinal slot extending fr0m Ehe link-ehamber to the t0p of ehe draw-head and converging upwardly, said slot having corresponding irregularly-curved grooves in its side Walls, substantially as shown,said grooves exten ding rearwardly and downwardly under the top of the draw-head, terminating in enlarged ends, 0f a gravity eoupling-hook l1av ing its bearings seated in the latter, said hook being disposed in the said slot, substantially as and f0r tl1e pnrpose Set forth.

7. In a car-coupling, the comloination, With a draw-head provided Wih a vertically and longitndinally disposed slot extending from tl1e link-chamber 130 the top 0f tl1e draw-head and converging upwardly, corresponding grooves in the side Walls of said slot, extending under the top 0f the draw-head and With a supplem entary slot extending from the link- IIO.

t0p one of whieh having downwardly and inwardly extending irregnlarly-curved grooves in its side Walls f0r the reception 0f the bearings of a gravity coupling-ho0k, substantially as shown and described.

In tesimony whereof I affix my signature in presence 0f two witnesses.

HENRY YV. SPRAGUE. \Vitnessesz GLADYS L. DUNNING, W. J. KENT. 

